Teens forge special relationships

A South Lake tutoring program brings mainstream and mentally challenged students together

October 18, 2005|By Rosalind Jennings, Special to the Sentinel

CLERMONT -- When Chris Hanlon signed up to work with special-education students at South Lake High School, he didn't know what to expect.

It turned out to be an enjoyable experience.

"After a while, I realized these kids just want someone to be their friend, and I just kept coming back," said Chris, 17. "Before this class started, I never talked to them."

Special-education teacher Theresa Kleinschnitz and guidance counselor Paul Wheeler spearheaded the creation of a mainstream class to help mentally challenged students develop relationships with the rest of the student body.

"We were the outsiders in the cafeteria, and that was not something I would settle for," Kleinschnitz said.

Kleinschnitz and Wheeler also teamed with the national movement Best Buddies, and their efforts have paid off. Last year, Kleinschnitz and Wheeler won a Disney Teacherrific Award. The program is in its third year.

"We have turned it around," Kleinschnitz said, laughing. "We are one of the most popular groups on campus right now, and we do not get picked on or teased."

Wheeler stressed that the surprise benefit was finding out how much the interaction benefits mainstream kids, who go with the special-education students to their classes in art, chorus, physical education and home economics, for example.

Senior Brian Blumenauer, 17, said mentally challenged students "never judge you by what you look like, or what you wear."

The peer pressure many teens feel is nonexistent among her students, according to Kleinschnitz.

"We like everybody," she said. "My guys don't know how to be mean. Some of my mainstream kids have said this has opened their hearts more than any friendship they've ever had. It's a different eye-opening experience for teenagers."

Like Chris, Brian is in his third year in the program. He has helped students to cook, learn math concepts, solve problems, clean dishes and handle other household chores. Often, they just talk.

Wheeler said the program is changing the attitudes a lot of people have about the abilities of the mentally challenged.

"Before this, mainstream kids never talked or looked at them," he said. "Now they see each other as friends. It's a great thing to see. And as a result our mainstream kids have grown up a lot more. They understand about the different kinds of disabilities."

The program is run as an exploratory tutoring class, but Wheeler stresses it's much more than that. About 75 mainstream kids graduate from the class each year.

Best Buddies is also involved in athletics. Robert Fed, a mentally challenged student, has played basketball in Special Olympics.

He looks forward to hanging out with mainstream students.

"We talk about everything. We talk about sports," Robert, 17, said. "We talk about how we are doing in school. We play games together. We just go to a prom, have some fun, dance together."

Robert said his favorite thing to do with his mainstream helpers is "just walking the track together."

Best Buddies also seeks donations to have events such as hoedowns, proms, luaus and talent shows.

"Anybody who's ever been a buddy gets to celebrate with us," Kleinschnitz said.

Added Chris: "I just like hanging out with the buddies. They make me laugh."